Pitt QB Eli Holstein does something that hasn't been done since Dan Marino
One of the biggest surprises in college football this season has been the Pitt Panthers. Head coach Pat Narduzzi has led the Panthers to a 5-0 start for the first time since 1991. It's been an impressive start against a relatively tough start over the first five weeks. They have played against both Kent State […]
One of the biggest surprises in college football this season has been the Pitt Panthers. Head coach Pat Narduzzi has led the Panthers to a 5-0 start for the first time since 1991. It's been an impressive start against a relatively tough start over the first five weeks.
They have played against both Kent State and Youngstown State this year, but had come from behind wins on the road against Cincinnati and at home in the backyard brawl against West Virginia. On Saturday, the Panthers finished off an up-and-down North Carolina team 34-24 for their first win in ACC play.
The key to their success? A quarterback in a revitalized offense.
Eli Holstein joins Dan Marino in elite company
The Panthers brought in Holstein who was a four-star recruit in the 2023 recruiting class this offseason after he decided to leave Alabama two days after the Rose Bowl loss to Michigan. Biggest reason? Holstein said that he wanted a fresh start.
"I just wanted a fresh new start," Holstein said. "I didn't really see myself growing in the ways that I wanted to at Alabama and I knew I needed to pursue other opportunities to grow the way that I wanted to. Pitt was the place for me to do that."
He's gotten that fresh start and then some. Narduzzi's recruitment of Holstein paired with the hiring of offensive coordinator Kade Bell has been a renaissance for a Pitt offense that has struggled massively over the two seasons.
Holstein hasn't just been exactly what Pitt has needed, he's been historic in their 5-0 start, becoming the first quarterback to win his first five starts since Dan Marino in 1979. Holstein was asked about it after the game and was nonchalant in his answer.
"I guess I'm a pretty good company. He's a Hall of Famer. He was an elite quarterback in college here at Pitt. Hopefully, I can keep doing what he did. You know, lead this team to great things."
The team's record isn't the only thing that's been great. Holstein's performance has been even more so. Holstein has been great this year. He's thrown for 1,564 yards and 15 touchdowns while running for 265 yards and three touchdowns. The stats aren't the only thing that's been impressive. Holstein has shown immense poise under center.
He led fourth-quarter comebacks against both Cincinnati (down 27-6) and West Virginia (down 34-24 with 4:55 left) and was incredibly poised in the pocket in leading them back. Holstein has been great for Pitt in all phases, including gaining chunks of yards in the run game.
While he isn't a draft-eligible prospect until the 2026 NFL Draft, Holstein is putting on a great display in his first season as a starter. He will be a popular player in the top five of draft-eligible quarterbacks this upcoming summer with his pocket presence and dual-threat ability.
The 2021 Panthers team won the ACC with Kenny Pickett at the helm and Holstein is ready to lead the next ACC Champions.
